How we eat and who we eat with has a powerful influence on what we eat. Eating with friends and loved ones can have benefits that lead to making healthier food choices.

Connect With Each Other and With Yourself

Mealtimes are a good time to connect, talk about your day, or take a moment to relax and reflect. Put away phones, turn off the TV and minimize other distractions to help focus on the present moment and the meal. Being in the moment can also allow you to listen to hunger and fullness cues better and can help avoid overeating.

Family Friendly Meals and Snacks

Make healthy food choices an everyday pattern for all. Offer a variety of foods or ingredients at meals and snack time, and highlight new and different foods as an exciting addition to the meal. If children are present, include them in the food preparation process. Knowing how to prepare food is a wonderful skill to have, and children can start learning by helping with simple tasks! Some easy jobs children can do include choosing recipes, helping with grocery shopping, washing fruits and vegetables, stirring pots, throwing away trash and scraps, and putting food on the table or back in the refrigerator. By being included in the cooking process, children are more likely to want to eat the food they helped make.

Mealtimes Are Better Together

Making an effort to eat most of your meals with others may be a challenge with busy schedules or if you live alone. Research shows that sharing meals with others may reduce the risk of poor nutrition and health-related illnesses, help to reduce skipped meals and increased snacking by allowing for accountability, and provide a more enjoyable meal experience. Have fun with meals together and try adding interesting twists with ideas like meal themes and “ingredient highlights”.

Connect with those around you and make healthier choices together!